The covers were classic (Beatles, Stones, The Band), alternative (Replacements, Pavement), and pretty much everything in between — all played pretty straight-on in Wilco’s patented style. Our two favorite tracks of the evening were the epic cover of Television’s “Marquee Moon” (streaming below) which during the performance began to sound very much like the band’s own “Kidsmoke”, and reminded me that Wilco was not just playing covers but also telling us a little about what has influenced their music. For the Replacements “Color Me Impressed” (also streaming) Wilco brought out a very unexpected guest, original Replacement bassist Tommy Stinson, who played guitar on the song. It was that kind of once in a lifetime show, with constant smiles and surprises. And just when we thought we’d heard it all Wilco played a head-scratcher, a fairly straight forward rendition of Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky”. That one is sure to get much of the attention, but this night was much bigger than any single song. At the end of the final cover, a state-appropriate “Roadrunner”, one of my fellow tapers asked me if the extended trip was worth it. Oh, yeah.

I recorded this set from inside the soundboard cage in the middle of the field. While the elements and distance were a bit of an issue, overall the sound is quite excellent. Enjoy!

You can download the whole show at nyctaper.com. Here’s the full setlist

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